CVE-2023-5525Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Authenticated auto-update disabling via unchecked AJAX capability

Published Nov 27, 2023 · Updated Oct 1, 2024

Missing authorization in Limit Login Attempts Reloaded before 2.25.26 allows remote authenticated users to disable plugin auto-updates. The toggle_auto_update AJAX callback accepts a valid nonce and changes the auto-update setting without checking the update_plugins capability. Access to a nonce rendered on the WordPress administration page is required, and exploitation changes only this plugin's auto-update state.

CVSS severity4.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.45%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Missing authorization in Limit Login Attempts Reloaded before 2.25.26 allows remote authenticated users to disable plugin auto-updates. The toggle_auto_update AJAX callback accepts a valid nonce and changes the auto-update setting without checking the update_plugins capability. Access to a nonce rendered on the WordPress administration page is required, and exploitation changes only this plugin's auto-update state.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-5525
Published
Nov 27, 2023
Updated
Oct 1, 2024
Vendor
Limit Login Attempts Reloaded
Product
Limit Login Attempts Reloaded
Classifications
CWE-862, T1562.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 27, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 1, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <2.25.26

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Limit Login Attempts Reloaded · Limit Login Attempts Reloadedversion=0 <2.25.26

Published CVSS scores

4.3CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-862Missing Authorization
T1562.001Impair Defenses: Disable or Modify Tools

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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